Fav. Tracks: Woodstock Two – Various Artists

Woodstock Two – Marrakesh Express (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young).

This is an old vinyl double-album dating back to 1971 and is a second release of material from the famous Woodstock Festival and, as such, is perhaps not quite as good as the first album, but still has some important bands and music and remains an important recording of this historical event that gave birth to all other music festivals (and saw the development of the peace movement so tightly associated with hippies and the youth of the time in general).

Picking a favourite track from this album was not too difficult and I immediately chose this classic hit from the brilliant Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.  I love the catchy tune and the lyrics are brilliant and tell the tale of that early 70s era.

Catch a bit more of the era with the closing song sung by most of the artists who appeared and featuring a track made famous by the musical stage play “Hair”

The album tracks:

Jam Back at the House	Jimi Hendrix
Izabella	Jimi Hendrix
Get My Heart Back Together	Jimi Hendrix
Saturday Afternoon/Won’t You Try	Jefferson Airplane
Eskimo Blue Day	Jefferson Airplane
Everything’s Gonna Be Alright	Paul Butterfield
Sweet Sir Galahad	Joan Baez
Guinnevere	Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4 + 20	Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Marrakesh Express	Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
My Beautiful People	Melanie
Birthday of the Sun	Melanie
Blood of the Sun	Mountain
Theme for an Imaginary Woman	Mountain
Woodstock Boogie	Canned Heat
Let the Sunshine In	Various Artists

Fav. Tracks: While My Guitar Gently Weeps Disc 2 – Various Artists

While My Guitar Gently Weeps Disc 2 – Cocaine (J.J. Cale)

The second CD of this small boxed set is another collection of wonderful guitar riffs and tune.  However, picking a favourite was, again, very easy for me as this track (cocaine) is one of my all time favourite blues track.

The riff is instantly recognisable and a great complement to words that I think are an interesting reflection of the world.  This is a really good foot-tapping tune and one everyone should have in their blues collection, whether it be Clapton’s version of this one  by JJ Cale.

The album tracks:

Big Log – Plant, Robert
Purple Rain – Prince
Road To Hell (part 2) – Rea, Chris
Parisienne Walkways – Moore, Gary
Jessica – Allman Brothers
Woodstock – Matthew’s Southern Comfort
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Turn To Stone – Walsh, Joe
Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac
Hold The Line – Toto
More Than A Feeling – Boston
Guitar Town – Earle, Steve
Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor) – Palmer, Robert
Jail Bait – Wishbone Ash
Cocaine – Cale, J.J.
Blue Guitar – Hayward, Justin & John Lodge
Going Home (Local Hero theme) – Knopfler, Mark
Whiskey In The Jar – Thin Lizzy

Fav. Tracks: While My Guitar Gently Weeps Disc 1 – Various Artists

While My Guitar Gently Weeps Disc 1 – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Jeff Healey Band)

This double CD is a wonderful collection of some of the best guitar work in recent rock history.  However, picking a favourite track from this first CD was relatively easy as the title track has always been one of my favourite pieces of music.

The introduction has a wonderful sound to it and really fits to the chorus and track title – the guitar really does weep.  The lyrics, in my view, are an amazing commentary on the world and the chorus easy to sing along with – just rock music at its best.

The album tracks:

After Midnight – Clapton, Eric
Love Over Gold – Dire Straits
Samba Pa Ti – Santana
Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealer’s Wheel
Keep On Lovin’ You – REO Speedwagon
Show Me The Way (live) – Frampton, Peter
Little Bit Of Love – Free
Right Next Door (Because Of Me) – Cray, Robert Band
Thrill Is Gone – King, B.B.
Sweet Dreams – Buchanan, Roy
Cryin’ Won’t Bring You Back – Green, Peter
Chance – Big Country
I Don’t Want A Lover – Texas
Shine Silently – Lofgren, Nils
Bird Of Paradise – White, Snowy
What’s Going On – Taste
Badge – Cream
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Healey, Jeff Band

Fav. Tracks: The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Vol. 2 – Various Artists

The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Vol. 2 – Wicked Game (Chris Isaak).

I am not sure how I came to this album, but I have a feeling I may have downloaded it to get this one track.  However, there are some other interesting tracks, some of which I had not heard before and others that were major hits.

I love the introduction to this track the guitar is superb and there is a great rhythm to the tune.  Chris Isaak’s voice is perfect for this song and he provides a real depth to the sound and that interesting shift in key is superb.  All in all a great track.

The album tracks:

Every Breath You Take	Sting
Wicked Game	Chris Isaak
Zombie	The Cranberries
Imitation of Life	R.E.M.
Layla	Eric Clapton
Four Seasons in One Day	Crowded House
Cornflake Girl	Tori Amos
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You	Rod Stewart
Like a Rolling Stone	Bob Dylan
Human Behaviour	Björk
Crazy	Seal
Beds Are Burning	Midnight Oil
Run, Baby, Run	Sheryl Crow
I’m Ready	Bryan Adams
In the Air Tonight	Phil Collins
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me	Elton John

Fav. Tracks: Vertigo Annual: 1970 – Various Artists

Vertigo Annual: 1970 – Three Sisters – Affinity,

This double album (vinyl) is one of my all-time favourite “sampler” albums and is a wonderful illustration of how progressive music was developing quickly and being marketed in 1970.  The music on this album led me to buy several other albums by the featured artists, so it did its job very well, but it a collection of many of major bands of the time.  In picking a favourite track I feel I should avoid those bands that I have listed elsewhere and, so, I choose a piece of music that I think is very catchy and an example of rock music developing from progressive rock sounds, from a band that launched from The University of Sussex, produced a single album, but then disappeared.

I like the rhythm that opens the track and the way the lyrics echo the story of the witches from Macbeth.  The music has hints of Black Sabbath and I can imagine a powerful stage-act built around this (although, because the band mainly played universities, this probably would not have happened).

The Album tracks:

Elegy	Colosseum
Handbags and Gladrags	Rod Stewart
Half Baked	Jimmy Campbell
I Don’t Know	May Blitz
Mississippi Woman	Juicy Lucy
In My Box	Fairfield Parlour
Goin’ My Way	Magna Carta
Three Sisters	Affinity
Behind the Wall of Sleep	Black Sabbath
Introduction	Gracious
To Play Your Little Game	Cressida
Elastic Rock	Nucleus
One Way Glass	Manfred Mann, Chapter Three
No Time Like The Present	Bob Downes
Summer Breeze	Dr Strangely Strange
Gypsy	Uriah Heep

Fav. Tracks: Together – Various Artists

Together – Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo (Johnny Winter).

This is one of the albums (vinyl) I mentioned earlier where the music company (in this case CBS) is promoting their own music (in this case mostly progressive rock, rock, country and a hint of blues) and is a classic example of why I liked to purchase these albums (a great way to hear some new bands, or some bands I had not heard as yet, but had read about etc.).  In fact this album got me interested in Johnny Winter, Poco, Soft Machine and Big Brother and The Holding Company to mention only a few.  Oh!  I nearly forgot to mention that this was also the first coloured vinyl that I ever owned – the album is coloured blue (this was to become something of a fashion during the 70s).

Choosing Johnny Winter was not too difficult as shortly after I bought this album I was at a concert at The University in hull where The Winter Brothers played and it was a great concert.  This track is a classic piece of rock music and is an excellent track.  However, the album also features some great tracks and is still a good play.

The Tracks:

Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo – Johnny Winter
Found a Child – Ballin’ Jack
Move Over – Janis Joplin
Se A Cabo – Santana
Cast Your Spell Uranus – Argent
Mr Natural – Big Brother and the Holding Company
New York City – Dreams
Teeth – Soft Machine
A Man Like Me – Poco
Merrimac County – Tom Rush
Lover of the Bayou – The Byrds
Waterfall – Mick Softley
Fool – Trees
Morning Will Come – Spirit
Beads of Sweat – Laura Nyro
Going to the Mill – The Chamber Brothers

Fav. Tracks: Soul Party – Various Artists

Soul Party – Hey Joe (The Jimi Hendrix Experience).

This album (vinyl) dates back to 1968 and shows that I was already buying soul music well before Northern Soul made it more popular.  However, I have always thought that this album is a strange collection with Jimi Hendrix playing more rock/blues than soul.  Despite that fact, there is also some really great soul on the album played by some less-well-known bands.  This is a good album from the distant past.

Despite not seeing Hey Joe as soul music, it is by far and away my favourite track from the album and is probably one the best pieces that Jimi Hendrix played.  His guitar work on this track is exceptional, but, for me, it is the lyrics that make this track so great.

The Tracks:

Grits ‘n  Cornbread – The Soulrunners
Headline News – Edwin Starr
In Between The Heartaches – Donnie Elbert
Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby – Suie & Big Dee Irwin
I Like What I’m Trying To Do – Waygood Ellis
Stone Free – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Too Far Gone – Donnie Elbert
Hey Joe – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
I Spy (For The FBI) – Jamo Thomas and His Party Brothers Orchestra
Spreading Honey – The Soulrunners
Judy In Disguise – The Amboy Dukes
Don’t Feel Sorry For Me – The Ikettes

Fav. Tracks: Rock Legends [UK] – Various Artists

Rock Legends [UK] – Who Do You Love (Juicy Lucy). This CD (x4) was bought as a cheap and cheerful way of getting a hold of some rock music that I did not have elsewhere.  It has several classic tracks on it and a lot of material that I have not heard before.  Most of the big names from 70s rock are included. Choosing a favourite track was not too difficult and Juicy Lucy are a band I have always liked, but always failed to buy enough music by.  This track may be one of their most famous and certainly instantly recognisable.  I just love the introduction with its resonant guitar riff and the deep throaty singing that make this song what it is – a great track of rock music.

The Tracks:

Hit And Run – Girlschool
Who Do You Love – Juicy Lucy
Free Man – Angel Witch
Space Cowboy – Atomic Rooster
Master Of The Universe – Hawkwind
Dead Men Tell No Tales – Motorhead
Pictures Of Matchstick Men – Status Quo
Living In Fear – Tempest
July Morning – Uriah Heep
Shoot On Sight – George, Robin
My Name Is Jesus Smith – Man
Those About To Die – Colosseum
Spirit – Magnum
Dirty Fingers – Moore, Gary

Born To Be Wild (live) – Blue Oyster Cult
Hurdy Gurdy Man (aka Status Quo) – Spectres
Taken By Storm – Bronz
Stargazer – Tempest
Killed By Death – Motorhead
Hit List – George, Robin
Running With The Pack – Alaska
Time Machine – Colosseum
If I Don’t Make Your Ears Bleed (It Ain’t Rock ‘N’ Roll) – Hell’s Belles
Run To Your Mama – Moore, Gary
Tonight – Girlschool
Pretty Woman – Juicy Lucy
Born To Kill (live) – Damned
People You Can’t Trust – Atomic Rooster
Devil’s Tower – Angel Witch

Bomber – Motorhead
Spunk Rock – Man
Wait Until Tomorrow – Black Widow
Victim (I’m Your) – Girlschool
Schoolgirl – Alaska
Up And On – Tempest
Angel Witch – Angel Witch
Motorhead – Hawkwind
Don’t Fear The Reaper (live) – Blue Oyster Cult
Kettle – Colosseum
All In Satan’s Name – Atomic Rooster
Miidnight Rider – Juicy Lucy
Race With The Devil – Girlschool
Heartline – George, Robin
Prize – Magnum

Flesh And Blood – Girlschool
Mr Skin – Juicy Lucy
Close Your Eyes – Atomic Rooster
Space Chase – Hawkwind
Gypsy – Black Widow
Down The Dustpipe – Status Quo
Brainstorm – Hawkwind
Look At Yourself – Uriah Heep
Smash It Up – Damned
Invasion – Magnum
Tanglewood ’63 – Colosseum
Long Legs – Hell’s Belles
Parlslenne Walkways – Moore, Gary
Seargent Fury – Harvey, Alex Sensational Band
Battle – Magnum

Fav. Tracks: Music of the Millennium, Vol. 2 – Various Artists

Music of the Millennium, Vol. 2 – Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House).

The previous sampler album was obviously a major success (not surprising as it contained a lot of very good tracks), so it was no surprise that a second quickly followed.  I don’t think the tracks on this double CD are quite as good, but I had no second thoughts about purchasing this album and I like a lot of the tracks (I also have a lot of them on other albums and I will exclude them from this choice of a favourite.

I was listening to Crowded House the other day and for some reason I thought they sounded a little like The Byrds (which I think is high praise) and I have always liked Neil Finn’s music and I have a CD of his solo work, so choosing this track as a favourite was easy; although, there was some stiff competition with some of the best music of the last decade of the 20th century being included.  This track is a really catchy number and I like the way some complex lyrics are fitted to a simple tune.

The Tracks:

Under Pressure	David Bowie; Queen
Start Me Up	The Rolling Stones
Pride (In the Name of Love)	U2
Bad Love	Eric Clapton
Love in an Elevator	Aerosmith
All Right Now	Free
Jet	Paul McCartney & Wings
Money for Nothing	Dire Straits
Sledgehammer	Peter Gabriel
Alive and Kicking	Simple Minds
Relax	Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The Logical Song	Supertramp
Living in the Past	Jethro Tull
Kiss	Prince
The Best	Tina Turner
Mrs. Robinson	Simon & Garfunkel
Like a Rolling Stone	Bob Dylan
Mr. Tambourine Man	The Byrds
God Only Knows	The Beach Boys
Woman	John Lennon
Angels	Robbie Williams
Don’t Dream It’s Over	Crowded House
Don’t Look Back in Anger	Oasis
Linger	The Cranberries
Paranoid Android	Radiohead
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next	Manic Street Preachers
Parklife	Blur
How Soon Is Now?	The Smiths
Oliver’s Army	Elvis Costello
Virginia Plain	Roxy Music
Going Underground	The Jam
Teenage Kicks	The Undertones
London Calling	The Clash
Firestarter	The Prodigy
Born Slippy	Underworld
Protection	Massive Attack; Tracey Thorn
Glory Box	Portishead
Life on Mars?	David Bowie

 

Not a bad collection of music and if the two “Millennium” albums are viewed together,

Fav. Tracks: Music of the Millennium, Vol. 1 – Various Artists

Music of the Millennium, Vol. 1 – Layla (Derek and The Dominos).

Was there ever an album so badly mis-named?  A Millennium is 1,000 years and surely would have to include some famous classical music – ah, but that is not what this about!  In fact this double CD was released just before New Year 1999 and is about the change of The Millennium.

This is a really excellent collection of rock and pop music from the 20th century and picking a single favourite is not easy and I have tried not to use a track that I have already chosen from another album.  Despite these restrictions, it was in fact quite easy to decide upon one of Eric Clapton’s all-time greats, Layla.  This is an exceptional piece of blues/rock from the late 60s and has never been bettered.

The Tracks:

Bohemian Rhapsody	Queen
Heroes	David Bowie
Millennium	Robbie Williams
Song 2	Blur
20th Century Boy	T. Rex
My Generation	The Who
Layla	Derek & the Dominos
Band on the Run	Wings
With or Without You	U2
Every Breath You Take	The Police
Livin’ on a Prayer	Bon Jovi
If I Could Turn Back Time	Cher
Heart of Glass	Blondie
A Design for Life	Manic Street Preachers
Creep	Radiohead
The Drugs Don’t Work	The Verve
Unfinished Sympathy	Massive Attack
Wonderwall	Oasis
Imagine	John Lennon
Jesus to a Child	George Michael
Jealous Guy	Roxy Music
Candle in the Wind	Elton John
Purple Rain	Prince
No Woman, No Cry	Bob Marley
In the Air Tonight	Phil Collins
Bridge over Troubled Water	Simon & Garfunkel
Stand by Me	Ben E. King
I Heard It Through the Gravevine	Marvin Gaye
Good Vibrations	The Beach Boys
Waterloo Sunset	The Kinks
Road to Nowhere	Talking Heads
Wuthering Heights	Kate Bush
A Little Time	The Beautiful South
Say What You Want	Texas
West End Girls	Pet Shop Boys
Stayin’ Alive	The Bee Gees
Dancing Queen	ABBA